MAY – 15: IN A CAPSULE
Short bursts of exercise can help with learning
A short exercise break may help when trying to learn or comprehend new information. A new study has shown that even short bursts of exercise might have the ability to improve complex memory formation, according to Choice Health Reader.
Regular exercise reduces the risk of dementia by over one-third. This benefit is due to a preservation of brain tissue, most particularly the hippocampus, which is critical for processing memories and learning. The beneficial effects of exercise on brain tissue are due to the increased blood flow and activation of the stem cells that renew the tissue. Hence, it is reasonable to expect that exercise might help in the short-term with learning and memory.
Most people on anti-depressants don’t need them
More than two-thirds of people taking anti-depressant drugs may not actually suffer from depression, claims a new study. The US-based study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that 69% of people taking anti-depressants did not meet the criteria for major depressive disorder, also known as clinical depression. “Our data indicates that anti-depressants are commonly used in the absence of clear evidence-based indications,†the researchers noted.
Anti-depressants are also prescribed for other psychiatric disorders. But the researchers found 38% of those taking the drugs did not meet the criteria for obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia or generalised anxiety disorder either.
Every hour of TV daily may up diabetes risk
Think twice before you settle down for your favourite TV show as every hour you spend in front of the idiot box increases the risk of developing diabetes by over 3%, warns a study. The study, published in the journal Diabetologia, examined the impact of sedentary behaviour over time on diabetes incidence.
The researchers calculated that for all the participants of the study the risk of developing diabetes increased approximately 3.4% for each hour spent watching TV. The results indicated that lifestyle intervention efforts that already focus on goals of increasing activity and reducing weight should also consider emphasising sitting less.
